The Department of State Services (DSS) has compensated a Sokoto businessman with N20 million and free medical care after he was accidentally shot during an operation in 2016.

In fulfillment of a promise made earlier, the DSS has invited the businessman to its hospital in Abuja where he is currently receiving comprehensive medical treatment. The victim, who was mistakenly shot during a pre-dawn operation to arrest a suspected gunrunner in Jos, Plateau State, is now benefiting from specialized care aimed at helping him regain full control of his limbs.

DSS Director-General, Mr. Tosin Ajayi, had in mid-March approved the payment of N10 million in damages awarded by a Federal High Court in Bauchi in 2018. The court judgment, delivered by Justice Muhammed Shittu Abubakar in the case with suit number FHC/J/CS/18/2018, had ordered the security agency to pay the sum to the businessman who was injured in a case of mistaken identity.

Going beyond the court's directive, the DSS Director-General added another N10 million to compensate for time lost, bringing the total compensation to N20 million. Additionally, he directed that the businessman be integrated into the DSS medical care system for free lifetime medical services.

According to a security source, "The man has been in the VIP ward which, of course, is fully air-conditioned. They have been running a series of checks and giving him round-the-clock medical attention, in order to make him regain full control of his limbs. I even understand the DG asked that he be fed for free."

The incident occurred in 2016 when DSS operatives mistakenly shot the businessman during an operation to arrest a suspected gunrunner who coincidentally bore the same name. Two years after the incident, the businessman, through his lawyer, Idris Akibu, approached the Federal High Court seeking redress.

The security source further stated, "This is the third DG since this unfortunate case of mistaken identity happened. We were very happy when our new DG directed that we pay the money. He even added another N10 million to the victim's money. It goes to show that, not only can security agencies be law abiding, we can also be full of the milk of human kindness."

This development comes as a positive step in addressing past wrongs and demonstrates the current DSS leadership's commitment to respecting court judgments and showing compassion to victims of operational errors.